Microsoft kills Nokia X Android line-up (Update)

As expected, Microsoft has decided that it is time for Nokia X line-up to make way for the company’s primary Windows Phone business.

In his big lay-off email today, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella wrote that the company plans to transfer select Nokia X device designs to Lumia team to become Windows phone devices.

“We plan to shift select Nokia X product designs to become Lumia products running Windows,” Satya noted.

While Nadella might have used word “select,” the company has clarified to Re/Code that it doesn’t plan to make future Android-based Nokia X phones. This means we will probably not see any other Nokia-branded Android smartphones after the recently announced X2.

Update: More details and context from Stephen Elop’s email:

“In addition to the portfolio already planned, we plan to deliver additional lower-cost Lumia devices by shifting select future Nokia X designs and products to Windows Phone devices. We expect to make this shift immediately while continuing to sell and support existing Nokia X products.”

So, Nokia X is officially dead and the in-production/ testing Nokia X devices will either be moved to Windows Phone or killed.

Originally introduced in February this year, Nokia X platform was the company (Nokia at that time)’s attempt to make affordable smartphone using Android Open-Source Project (AOSP) and get the first time smartphone buyers acquainted with Microsoft services, so that it will be easier to sell them Windows Phone devices when they are in the market for their next smartphone purchase.